Hopes for a Godolphin Classic triumph on Irish Guineas weekend rest squarely on the shoulders of promising Anamba, who trainer Michael Halford describes as "a filly we have always thought a lot of."
Hopes for a Godolphin Classic triumph on Irish Guineas weekend rest squarely on the shoulders of promising Anamba, who trainer Michael Halford describes as "a filly we have always thought a lot of."
On only her third outing, Anamba faces strong opposition in Sunday's G1 Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh, where there has been significant rain but not enough, it seems, to jeopardise her chances.
"There has been rain knocking around, and she is a filly who needs it fast to be seen at her best," Halford said. "But, if the forecast is right, it should be Good ground.
"I am keen to run her. It's been a wet spring, and it has been difficult to get the fillies to come. Just recently, though, she has moved forward and has been working well.
"It's a big ask, but we think a lot of her, and this is a good place to start her campaign. Her runs against Coolmore last year were very good, and we regard her very highly," he added.
In the absence of well-credentialed Ballydoyle, a surprise absentee, the sharp focus is on Now Or Never, winner of the G3 1,000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown and a filly who recently changed hands. She is expected to run a big race.
Minding, who looked outstanding at Newmarket, bids for a famous Guineas double and represents strong Classic form. As one of the highest-rated in Europe, she is very much the filly to beat.
In Saturday's G1 Irish 2,000 Guineas, the Hugo Palmer-trained Galileo Gold attempts to become only the ninth to complete the Anglo-Irish Guineas double when he faces seven rivals in an intriguing renewal.
There has been much debate on whether this impressive winner of the colts' Classic at Newmarket should be having a crack at the G1 Investec Derby, though that idea now seems to have been conclusively ruled out by connections.
The Irish 2,000 also offers a chance for Air Force Blue to redeem himself following a disappointing 12th at Newmarket. His stablemate Air Vice Marshall, who finished fourth in the English 2,000 Guineas, also lines up again.
Jim Bolger will saddle Sanus Per Aquam, a Teofilo colt who finished a solid third in the G1 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket last October. This three-year-old has won three of his six starts and has very good juvenile form to his credit.
